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Photos: Walden Grove teacher gets Milken Educator Award

Walden Grove High School english teacher Christopher Laughland received the 2013 Milken Educator Award during a surprise assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at the school in Sahuarita, Ariz. Laughland, who also advises the student council and coaches baseball, took home a $25,000 award.

Walden Grove High School english teacher Christopher Laughland wipes away tears after he learned he received the 2013 Milken Educator Award, amounting to $25,000, during a surprise school-wide assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at the school, 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, in Sahuarita, Ariz. Laughland, who also coaches baseball and advises the student council, is the only Arizona award recipient. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

Walden Grove High School english teacher Christopher Laughland, center, is surrounded by student council representatives as he makes a phone call to share the news he'd received the 2013 Milken Educator Award, amounting to $25,000, during a surprise school-wide assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at the school, 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, in Sahuarita, Ariz. Laughland, who also coaches baseball and advises the student council, is the only Arizona award recipient. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

Walden Grove High School english teacher Christopher Laughland freezes up as he learns he'd received the 2013 Milken Educator Award, amounting to $25,000, during a surprise school-wide assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at the school, 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, in Sahuarita, Ariz. Laughland, who also coaches baseball and advises the student council, is the only Arizona award recipient. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

Walden Grove High School english teacher Christopher Laughland, center, poses with Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal, left, and Milken Family Foundation representative Gary Stark as he receives the 2013 Milken Educator Award, amounting to $25,000, during a surprise school-wide assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at the school, 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, in Sahuarita, Ariz. Laughland, who also coaches baseball and advises the student council, is the only Arizona award recipient. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

Walden Grove High School english teacher Christopher Laughland, second from right, poses with district officials after receiving the 2013 Milken Educator Award, amounting to $25,000, during a surprise school-wide assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at the school, 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, in Sahuarita, Ariz. Laughland, who also coaches baseball and advises the student council, is the only Arizona award recipient. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

Sahuarita Unified School District Superintendent Manuel Valenzuela, far right, holds up the last "0" to show the award amount for Walden Grove High School english teacher Christopher Laughland before he would receive the 2013 Milken Educator Award, amounting to $25,000, during a surprise school-wide assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at the school, 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, in Sahuarita, Ariz. Laughland, who also coaches baseball and advises the student council, is the only Arizona award recipient. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

Walden Grove High School english teacher Christopher Laughland gets a congratulatory hug from a student after he received the 2013 Milken Educator Award, amounting to $25,000, during a surprise school-wide assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at the school, 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, in Sahuarita, Ariz. Laughland, who also coaches baseball and advises the student council, is the only Arizona award recipient. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

Walden Grove High School english teacher Christopher Laughland gives an acceptance speech as he receives the 2013 Milken Educator Award, amounting to $25,000, during a surprise school-wide assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at the school, 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, in Sahuarita, Ariz. Laughland, who also coaches baseball and advises the student council, is the only Arizona award recipient. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

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Walden Grove High School english teacher Christopher Laughland wipes away tears after he learned he received the 2013 Milken Educator Award, amounting to $25,000, during a surprise school-wide assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at the school, 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, in Sahuarita, Ariz. Laughland, who also coaches baseball and advises the student council, is the only Arizona award recipient. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

Walden Grove High School english teacher Christopher Laughland, center, is surrounded by student council representatives as he makes a phone call to share the news he'd received the 2013 Milken Educator Award, amounting to $25,000, during a surprise school-wide assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at the school, 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, in Sahuarita, Ariz. Laughland, who also coaches baseball and advises the student council, is the only Arizona award recipient. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

Walden Grove High School english teacher Christopher Laughland freezes up as he learns he'd received the 2013 Milken Educator Award, amounting to $25,000, during a surprise school-wide assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at the school, 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, in Sahuarita, Ariz. Laughland, who also coaches baseball and advises the student council, is the only Arizona award recipient. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

Walden Grove High School english teacher Christopher Laughland, center, poses with Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal, left, and Milken Family Foundation representative Gary Stark as he receives the 2013 Milken Educator Award, amounting to $25,000, during a surprise school-wide assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at the school, 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, in Sahuarita, Ariz. Laughland, who also coaches baseball and advises the student council, is the only Arizona award recipient. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

Walden Grove High School english teacher Christopher Laughland, second from right, poses with district officials after receiving the 2013 Milken Educator Award, amounting to $25,000, during a surprise school-wide assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at the school, 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, in Sahuarita, Ariz. Laughland, who also coaches baseball and advises the student council, is the only Arizona award recipient. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

Sahuarita Unified School District Superintendent Manuel Valenzuela, far right, holds up the last "0" to show the award amount for Walden Grove High School english teacher Christopher Laughland before he would receive the 2013 Milken Educator Award, amounting to $25,000, during a surprise school-wide assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at the school, 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, in Sahuarita, Ariz. Laughland, who also coaches baseball and advises the student council, is the only Arizona award recipient. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

Walden Grove High School english teacher Christopher Laughland gets a congratulatory hug from a student after he received the 2013 Milken Educator Award, amounting to $25,000, during a surprise school-wide assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at the school, 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, in Sahuarita, Ariz. Laughland, who also coaches baseball and advises the student council, is the only Arizona award recipient. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

Walden Grove High School english teacher Christopher Laughland gives an acceptance speech as he receives the 2013 Milken Educator Award, amounting to $25,000, during a surprise school-wide assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at the school, 15510 S. Sahuarita Park Road, in Sahuarita, Ariz. Laughland, who also coaches baseball and advises the student council, is the only Arizona award recipient. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star